Improvement in telegraph apparatus



v 3 sheets s heet 3. L. TQLINDSEY. TELEGRAPH APPARATUS.

I 'PatentdMaJr. 7, 1871.

LANDY TUNSTALL LINDSEY, OE JACKSON, TENNESSEE.

Letters Patent No. 112,360, dated March 7,1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN TELEGRAPH APPARATUS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To, achonrit may concern Be itplcnown that I, LANDY 'tUnsrALL LINDSEY, of Jackson, in the county of Madison and State of Tennessee, have made certain new and useful -Improvements in, and in the use of, my Electro-lliagnetic Motor of the improved form patented August 16, 1870, and numbered 106,493, whereby it can be used for dial, printing, sound,,or repeating-telegraph purposes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference thereon.

Similar reference letters or figures represent the Figure 4 shows three of the instrun ents, and the arrangement,oftheir circuits, so that, they may be made ,to work. isochronally, and also illustrates the manner of using two of them as "le waters.

The magnets M M M"',le vers L I), connecting-rod T, pawls I, ratchet-wheel It, toothed wheel \V, shaft 1, spring N, frame F, spring'l, adjusting-screws i" arethe compouentparts of nly;electro-magnetic 1no'-, tor as patented August 16,. 1870, and I here remark that a vice verse arrangementin theoperation ofthe toothed wheel W and spring N, byattaching the spring to shaft Z, or the arm A thereon, so that it will revolve with themand strike alternateteeth and spaces in a stationary ring, will insure the same automaticinovement of thelmotor. i

The parts of the instrument which are additional are as follows: 1, i i L" is a printing-lever, having an armature thereon facing the polesof and common to either magnet E y E; the breadth of its stroke can be adjusted by the use of the.adjusting-screws p p. I is an ,impression-roller,titted loosely on the top of lever L", and opposite to a type-wheel, O, on the shaft Z. This rolleris made'of lndia rubber, and has fiayielding surface i E'isa magnet for withdrawing lever L" after the blow hasbecn given to the types.

E is amagnet, which attracts lever L'\vhen necessary to bring impression-roller 1 into' contact with type whcel 0 toimprint aletter. 1

wisafbrkcd lever, lying in a right an le horizontal position to and controlled by lever L, which stands vertically between the prongs thereof. m

G H, figs. 1 and 3, are the rollers through and by which the paper is moved forward.

.J is an inking-roller for supplying the type-wheel with ink. It swings in a frame, and is held to the surface of the types by a semicircular sprin It revolves with the type-wheel by frictional contact, and materially assists to steady the motion of the instrui mcnt.

U is a small switch-bar for breaking the circuit of magnet E when it is not desired to print.

K is an ordinary transmitting-key, employedin connection with theinstrument to give signals or otherwise open'aud close the circuit, which includes the governor-magnets therein.

U is the circuit-closer of the key K, and, when opened at any one point in the circuit, allows the motioncfi all theinstruinentsincluded thewin tn begin,

and when closed stops them.

Z represents the alphabetical levers,-a rranged in circular form, only a segmentof the circle appearing on either side of the drawings, fig. 2.

d (1 d are three rings which support these levers.- They are connected together by suitable ar1ns,the middle ring d serving as a fulcrum for the levers to rest in. J

The inner ring l" contains twenty-eight stop-pins, and the outer ringd a like number of alphabetical knobs. These knobs are screwed into the outer ends 1 of the levers, and'the stop-pins rest upon the inner converging ends thereof. 15y depressing any one of the alphabetical knobs in the outer ring-the inner-extremity of the lever will be correspondingly elevated and raise therewith, the stop-pin resting thereon sufficiently high for it to cross the path. of and intercept the revolving arm A, which is fixed on the shaftl above, stopping its motion to allow a letter to be printed. The lever and pin resume their original po-' sition, when released, by the aid of a spiral spring which encircles the latter.

his a horizontal metal bar, swinging on the same axis" with roller Gr This bar is furnished with two arms, ff, acting as friction clutches on the surface of roller G, and moved by an arm, extending from lever L, working in a slot in the bar h. r

V V V"are binding-posts for the reception of the buttery-wires of the propelling and printing power.

The use and utility-of the electrical conductingwires will be hercinbclowexplained when rctirrcd to.

My invention consists in employing my electromagnetic motor,'of the improved form patented and numbered as above, to give rotation to an arm, A,

fixed on the shaft 1, which supports the toothed wheel 7 and ratchet-wheel R thereon, and of combining with it a circle of alphabetical levers arranged around this shaft for the purposeot' arresting this arm at any point it is desired that it should indicate a letter, the arm and levers constituting a transmitting device at the sendhm-station and indicating apparatus at the receiving-station.

The intention of this combination is to render the motor ell'eetive as a dial-telegraph. Advantage is taken of the fact, as represented in my first patent, No. 92,Q66, that any number of sets can be introduced into the circuits, but only two are necessary to actuate and govern the motion. In consonanee with the n'icaning of this portion of the specifications of the patent above referred to, 1 include the magnet of the governor-set of each instrument in the circuit of the line-wire, so that the pulsations of electricity communicated by the 'n'opelling-set of a single instrument to the magnet of its governor-set will be likewise com municated to the magnet of the governor-set of each of the other instruments included in the same circuit at different points on the line, thereby insuring a simultaneous movementof the lever of each of the governor-sets, and, as the vibration of each of these lovers in turn causes a similar movement of the propellinglcver of their respective. instruments, it will be readily perceived that the movement of two or more of the instruments can thus be made isochroual. An illustration of this is furnished in 4, where, by tracing the coma-ctious to the left oithe dotted line 3 it will he seen that the circuit which includes the magnet of the governor-set of each instrument therein start-s ii'om one pole of the battery .8 and proceeds, through wire 23, key K, wire 20, magnet M", wire 19, magnet M, wire 2, switch-bar 3, wire 4, key K, wire 5, switchhar 6, wire 7, to ground, through which it finds its return to opposite pole of battery B, thus making the circuit complete, and including therein magnet M of the governor-set of one instrument and-magnet M v of the governor-set oi theother instrument.

When the circuit is openedlor close l these magnets will be similarly and simultaneously ail'ected, and communicate a corresponding effect to those of the other or propelling set of their respective instruments.

As the operation of the springN and toothed wheel W is to open and close the circuit, which includes the nhtgnet of the governor-set oi'each instrument therein, it is'necessary to provide a circuit-closer, to keep the circuit permanently closed at all poiuts, except where the instrument is used for transmitting, where it is required to be opened, that the action of the spring N and toothed wheel W may alternately open and close it. j

Instead of adopting the ordinary circuit-closer, composed et a single bar and button, for this purpose I employ an ordinary transmittiug-key,K, having a circuit-closer, O, thereon, so that, bylift-ing the connecting-rod-T'i'rom off the top of lever L, tig. 1, the key maybe manipulated, and the lever L, moving correspondingly therewith, may, in such instance, be made to occupy the place of a sounder for signaling ottices,

.or otherwise.

At the receiving-station, as above observed, the circuit ol' the line-wire must be kept closed at all other than the transmitting point. It therefore follows that the operation of the spring N and toothed wheel W amount to nothing elsewhere than at this, point, the circuit-closers at all other points keeping them cut out.

Advantage is taken of this fact to utilize the toothed wheel and spring at areceiving point, where there is also another line leading in some dillbrcnt direction, to open and close the circuitthereoi', and thus repeat the pulsations of electricity thereon. Fig. 4 illustrates the malmer ofdoiug this.

By reference thereto it will be seen that I employ two switches, S S, each consisting of two bars, connected together by a transverse bar, which must be of some insulating substance.

One of these switches, S,'when not used in connection with repeaters, leaves the circuit of each line distinct, and, in all respects, as though it was not employed; but when changed, in order that the instrument may be operated as repeaters, it exchanges the course of the line-wires, so that each leads to the spring N of the opposite instrument, respectively.

It the wire which leads from the toothed wheel of each instrunient'led to a distant point instead of to the ground, as shown in the drawing, then it would be necessary to have four bars to the switch S, in order to exchange their course, each to the opposite toothed wheel also.

Changing their course in the present illustration, however, would amount to nothing, as both lead directly to the ground.

The only use of the other switch S is to open the circuit on either one side and close it simultaneously on the other during the operation of repeaters.

When not in use the bars of this switch rest midway on all the buttons and keep the circuit on each side closed.

My invention further consists in employing the vibrating levers L L of my motor, and the adjustingscrews i i t'" 11', against which they strike, to form part of the circuit of magnet E, which controls printinglcver L", and \Vhielnoperat-lng in conjunction with the movement of the toothed wheel W and spring N, will, whenever the motion ofthe instrument is stopped and these levers arein contact with the points t or 1'. 6., respectively close the circuit in any other than the sending station, through the coils of magnet 1), cansing it to attract printing-lever L" thereto, and the. roller I thereon, to press an interposed strip of paper to the type-wheel.

This paper is supported in suitable guides, which do not admit its touching the types except when pressed thereto by roller 1.

The lever L", just as its movement toward the typewheel is completed, will move the lever to, by striking one of the prongs thereof, to a contact with adjustingscrew m, the cfi'ect of which will be to cut 0d the current from its passage through the coils of magnet E, and establish its flow through the coils of magnet E, thereby withdrawing lever L as soon as it has struck the blow and given the impression of the type to the paper.

The circuits formed by either of the above arrangements for controlling lever L are distinct from and do not conflict with those of the motors.

The success oi' the arrangement depends upon the lever L of the governor-set always severing its contact with either adj listing-screw t" or 'i"just before lever'L oi the propellingset reaches either adj listing-screw 'i or 1', respectively, thus keeping the circuit of magnet Econtinually broken.

When the motion of the instrument is continuous, the operation of lever L of the propelling-set breaks onepart of the circuit of magnet E by advancing the toothed wheel W to or beyond a contact with spring N, just before it closes another part of this circuit, by making contact with that adj listing-screw toward which it is moving.

Advancing the toothed wheel 7 to or beyond a contact with spring N breaks the circuit of magnet E, by causing-lever L of the governor-set to be withdrawn from its contact with eitheradjusting-screw or '1,

before lever L of the propelling-set reaches cit-her adjusting-screw t or i, respectively;

But when the motion of the instrument is arrested the operation of the spring N and break-wheel \V, in this regard, is stopped also, which allows the levers -L' to come to rest against the points of adj ustin g-screws t t or t'xi, respectively,at' thereceiving station, in either of which positionsthey will close the circuit of magnet E, which will immediately attract-printinglever-L thereto and givethe impression of the type to the paper.

As it will be seen that the success of the arrangement depends upon lever L, when the motion is continuous, driving the, toothed wheel W toor beyond a contact with springN,so that their action will cause lever L of the governor-set to open one part of the cir:

, cuit of magnet 15- just before the former lever closes another part thereof, it follows that any equivalent device, controlled by the same lever and accomplishing the same purpose, would-answen'the novelty and utila When levers L L have closed the circuit through magnet E by their contact with. adjusting-screws i if,

. respectively, the circuit through magnet E may be thus traced: u

Starting from binding-post V,'which represents one pole of the battery, tie. wire 28, through magnet E,

thence eta. wire 34, switch-bar U, wire 35, lever L, adjusting-screw '6, wire 29,,adjustingscrew' 'i', lever L, wire 36, to binding-post V, representing the other pole of the battery, andcompleting the circuit.

When the same circuit is closed by the contact of the above levers with adj ustin g-screws t" t", respectively, the circuit may be thus traced Starting from binding-post V, 'cia. wire 28, througlr magnet E, thence oimwire 34, switch-bar U, wire 35, lever L, adjusting-screw 3', wire 30, adj Listing-screw c, lever L, wire 36, to binding-post V, again completing the circuit. 1

The short dotted lines 25, 26, 27, in duplicate, represent the connections of the propelling-set of the motor, and if shown in full extension, the duplicates,

in each instance, would join and form a continuous wire, leading to and connecting the parts, as repres'ented by their similar numbers. a I

The wire connections necessary to in lu le the governor-magnet M', spring N, and toothed Wheel W therein, as forming part of another circuit, are not shown -in fig. 2, to avoid confusionof circuits, but ap- 1 pear in full outline in fig. 4.

When the printing-lever moves forward to the poles of magnet E it becomes necessary to insure its prompt withdrawal as soon as the blow has been given to the type." This is accomplished by the lever L", just as it completes its stroke in the direction of magnet E, striking one prong ofthe lever to, driving it to, a eontact with adjusting-screw m,,thereby cutting offthe ,batteifly-current from magnet E and establishing its flow through the-coils of magnet E, the latter magnet immediately attracting printing-lever Lto its poles.

Theforkedportion ot'levere begins about its center, and is so made that the prongs spring outwardly, and the breadth'of space between them is expanded or contracted by means of a small thumb-screw therein. The breadth of this space must be not quite equal to that of the stroke of the printing-lever L", which stands upright between the prongs, s) that it will strike a prong of the lever (t at ca :lrstroke it makes 4 in either direction, and move it sufiicicutly to either make or break its contact with the adjusting screw in.

WVhen lever L'f drives lever a to a contactwith adjusting-screw m, it will be seen, by reference to the double dotted linesxin the drawings that the effect of this contact will be to cut off the current from magnet E and direct its flow through the coils of magnet E.

The circuit so formed lnay begtraced by starting from one pole of the battery, representedby,bindingpoles of this magnet it will strike a prong of levera,

breaking contact of this lever with adjusting-screw m and destroying the circuit formed as, just described, leaving lever L to remain, by its own gravity, against the poles of magnet E until the magnet E again attracts it thereto, when a repetition of the effects above described will again follow. It will be seen that I employ onlythree'binding posts, V V V. The reason for this isthat the lever L of the governor-set assists to close two circuits,. that of the propeling-set of the motor and also of the printing-lever. It is, therefore, necessary thatthe'same element of the respective batteries of these circuits should be in connection with this lever.

' As one binding-post, in such case, receives the wires from the same pole of each battery, only two addi-, tional posts are necessary to receive the wires from the remaining pole of each battery.

A single battery could with propriety be used for both the propelling and printing powers, giving'its full strength to the formerwhen that circuit only was in operation, and dividing its strength between each when both circuits were closed, upon the principle of two or more lines working from one battery.

My invention also consists in an adjustable feedmotion for tile paper. The novelty of this arrangement consists in seeming a feed for the paper operated by t-he magnets'E E, and entirely adjustable by giving more or less stroke or motionto'the printingleiler L by the use of the adjusting-screws p p.

The parts concerned in this arrangement and theiroperation will be explained by reference to the detached sectional drawing, figo3, and the position they occupy in the instrument can be seen by reference to fig. 1. They are thus removed from the plan, fig; 2, to avoid the confusion they would cause by m tiring obscure other portions of the instrument they would exclude from view.

' 'An arm of the lever L passes through a slot at one firmly holding and moving the roller forward, and carrying therewith the paper, .also, which passes between this and roller H, and is propelled by their friction.

The pressure ofthe rollers G H on the paper is regulated by means of the screws 9 g, which operate upon one extremity of arms a;

The arms anvhich support roller H, are flexible, and will yield sutiiciently should any inequalities in the "paper or surfaces of the rollers tendto impede their movement. Y

The roller G has a groove in its surface to prevent blurring the letters as the paper passes through.

As the feet ff on the bar It control the movement of the roller G, and as the lever L controls the move-'.

ment of the bar It, any breadth of stroke given the leverL will likewise communicate a corresponding movement of the roller G, and with it the paper, so

that, to determine the requisite distance for .the pa,--

Having described my invention,

What I claim therein, and wish to be secured in by Letters Patent, is a p 1'. The arrangement of levers L L, adjustingscrews M t 'i', and the electrical conducting-wires connecting therewith as traced, in conjunction with toothed wheel W and spring N, or their equivalent, for causing an automatic movement of printing-lever L, in the manner as described. 7

2. The arrangement of a lever, a, adjusting-screw m, post Q, having proper electrical conductin -wires connecting therewith, controlled and operated in the manner as described, and for purposes set forth.

3. The combination of lever L", rubber roller I,

magnets E E, controlled and operated as described, for giving the impression of the type to the paper.

4. The combination of the bar h, arms ff thereon, rollers G H, arms n, adjusting-screws g g, constituting an adjustable feed movement for the paper, and controlled by the magnets E E, lever. L", and adjusting-screws p p, in the manner described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses this the 20th day of September, 1870.

L. T. LINDSEY.

Witnesses:

M. M. MILLER, H. H. OURTISS. 

